Medical appliance.



M. M. SWEET.

MEDICAL APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2. I915.

1,155,527. Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

MARTIN M. SWEET, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MEDICAL APPLIANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Oct. 5, 11915.

Application fi1edApri12, 1915. Serial No. 18,713.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARTIN M. SWEET, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of -Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Medical Appliances; and I do hereby declare that the following description of my said invention, taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings,' forms a ull, clear, and exact specification, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates generally to improvements in medical appliances, and it consists, essentially in the novel and peculiar combination of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter first fully set forth and described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing to which reference has already been made, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sketch showing my invention in readiness for the performance of its functions. Fig. 2is a plan, partly in section, of my invention. Fig. 3 is a like plan of amodified type of said invention. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section in line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical. longitudinal section in line 55 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a vertical, transverse section in line 6-6 of Fig. 3. Fig.7 is a plan of a transfer valve employed in connection with my invention.

Like parts are indicated by corresponding characters or symbols of reference in all the figures of the drawing.

The essential function of my invention is to facilitate the performance of an enema; the particular object being to eliminate the unpleasant, objectionable, and ofttimes nau seating efiect accompanying this operation; and a further object aimed at is the production of a device, possessing chambers therein; one for the usual enema solution well known to the profession, and the other for some specific medicinal solution, in which the non-dilution of the solution durmg the period of enema is essential.

To better understand my invention in its simplest form; for the flushing of the colon and large intestine, I refer to Figs. 1 and 2, in which A is a-structure substantially oval in plan and preferably produced in hard rubber, though it is to be understood that neither the outline nor the rubber are required to be employed, as other materlals and conformation will serve the same purposes. This structure has a plane bottom Wall 16, and an upwardly curved top wall 11, WhlOh top wall joins said bottom wall at or near the outline of the structure for approxlmately half the length thereof, formlng a chamber 12 therebetween. Beyond the chamber 12, the structure is solid as clearly seen in Fig. 2, and it is to be noted that the upper face of the top wall 11 is substantlally convexed' both laterally and longitudinally toward the bottom, producing a uniform downwardly sloping surface, whereby a natural and comfortable seating forthe human body,.bearing in mind the purpose of this invention, is afforded, except at certain points.

Substantially medially of the length and width of the structure A is produced a disk-.

like plane horizontal surface 13, centrally of which is drilled or otherwise produced a threaded, vertical aperture 13, which aper ture is in connection with a like horizontal aperture 14, drilled through the solid portion of the structure A, and communicating with the chamber 12 adjacent its top thereof as'indicated in Fig. 4. In the peripheral edge of the structure A, preferably at the point of greatest radius from disk 13 is an aperture 15, to the outer edge of which is fitted a stop valve 16, which valve is adapted to be embraced by the end of a hose 17, whereby a liquid may be introduced into the chamber 12. Superimposed upon the disklike surface 13 is a conical member 17 (preferably of rubber) which is possessed of an axially depending threaded stem 18, which is adapted to engage the threaded aperture 13 in an obvious manner. The upper end of the cone 17 terminates in an extended nozzle 19, there being a passage 20 throughout the length of said cone and its stem connecting said nozzle with said chamber 12.

It is now to be remarked that the conical member 17* may be formed integral with the structure A, and the upper end thereof adapted for engagement with an independently produced nozzle 21, which modification is deemed a mechanical equivalent and there fore Within the scope of my. invention.

In preparation for the usual soap and water enema, or a medicated enema in which the medication is of less specific gravity than Water, the soap or medication is poured into the chamber 12, through the opening 13*, the cone 17 being removed for that purpose, until said chamber 12 is filled as exhibited by an outflow through valve 16, which is then closed. The structure A may then be placed upon a bath tub seat 21 Fig. 1, with the tube 17 connected to a filled water bag 18 located at a desired elevation. The patient now enters the nozzle 19 into the rectum and seats himself solidly upon the structure A, the conical member 17 of which effectually preventing any back leakage of the fluid, as it were. The individual now manipulates the valve 16 to control the enema in a readily understood manner, and it is particularly pointed out that the fluid entering the chamber 12 at a point remote from the discharge therefrom the liquid within said chamber will be forced by the direct pressure of water through the nozzle 19 into the organs of the human system adapted to receive them.

In instances where it is desired to perform an anema of a medical solution of greater specific gravity than water, wherein it is an essential that the solution be not diluted by coming" in contact with the forcing or impelling water, as it were, I take the entire structure as already disclosed and form in the solid portion of the member A, a chamber 12*, a duplicate of the chamber 12 heretofore mentioned, separating the two chambers by oppositely disposed lateral walls 30 and 31 and a central hub 32. Exteriorly of wall 30 is formed a lateral protuberance 33, in which is a horizontally disposed circular passage 34, extending almost through the boss 32 and through the axis of a vertical aperture 32 therein. This aperture terminates at its lower end in passage 34 and extends upwardly through said boss-32, through an upstanding conical protuberance 17 thereon, and through a nozzle 21, which nozzle is in threaded or similar engagement with the upper end of said conical protuberance.

Connecting chamber 12 with the passage 34 is a circular aperture 14, and likewise connecting chamber 12 with the passage 34 is a similar aperture 14".

Adapted for a rotative, though leak-tight fit in circular passage 34, is a circular oscillating transfer valve 40, Fig. 7 This valve is the full length of the passage 34 and a short distance exteriorly, and, at its outer end is provided with a handle 41 for oscillatin the same. Near the inner end the valve as an internal chamber 42, which is punctured by four openings 43, 44, 45, and 46. Openings 43 and 45 are in the same longitudinal line with respect to each other, as are 44 and 46, but these two sets of holes are disposed 90 degrees apart on the periphery of the valve 40, with the openings 44 and 45 in the same peripheral line, but 90 degrees apart.

The holes 43 and 46 are disposed to the left and the right respectivelyof the said peripheral line, and likewise at a right angle to each. other. The longitudinal distances between holes 43, 44-), and 46 are equal to the distance between the apertures 14*, 32", and 14", so that if the valve 42 be introduced into valve passage 34 in the same position as shown in Fig. 7, the hole 45 would register with 32 and the hole 46 with 14*, so that liquid in chamber 12 would be impelled through aperture 14", would pass therethrough, and likewise through holes 42, 45, 32 and thence through the nozzle 21. If now the handle 41 of valve 40 be rotated 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow pointer in Fig. 3 then 14* and 43 register as do 44 and 32", permitting the efllux of liquid from chamber 12 and retaining the water in chamber 12, as will be readily observed.

In the interior of chamber 12, resting on the bottom thereof there is an inner bag 50 constructed from thin rubber, similar to but lighter than that of inner tubes of automobile tires and the like. Said bag has a neck portion 51, which is made leakage tight by the end of stop valve 52, and follows the general contour of the chamber 12 though somewhat smaller.

It will now be observed that if the chamber 12 be filled with a solution of the kind desired, the bag 50 will be flattened down against the bottom of said chamber. If now the rubber tube 17 be connected to stop valve 52 and that turned on, as it were, the bag 50 would become inflated and the solution in chamber 12 expelled, upon the proper positioning of the transfer valve 40, into and through the nozzle 21 in an evident manner, without the slightest danger of the expulsive water diluting the solution.

To replace the bogs 50 as they become worn out a large opening, closed by a plug 60 is provided.

It is now to be stated that this device may be laid directly on a water bag and suitable tube connections made therewith, in which case the weight of the individual will create the necessary pressure to empty the chambers 12 and 12.

I have hereinbtfore disclosed the preferred mode of practising my invention, but I reserve the right to make such and any changes as might occur to one skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, or to make any and all such alterations as may be permitted under the doctrine of equivalents.

Having thus fully described my invention I claim as new, and desire to secure to myself by Letters Patent of the United States 1. An article of the class described, including a base and a air of chambers therein separated by a ridge, a transfer valve located in said bridge, there being an outlet arising from said valve-to the exte- Ill rior of said base, there being openings from said chambers to said valve, and co-incidable openings in said valve, whereby upon oscillation of said valve the same Will alternately open communication between said chambers and said outlet.

2. A device of the class described including a non-collapsible structure, an upstanding nozzle upon the upper surface of said structure, there being a chamber Within said structure, a protuberance integral with said structure projecting into said chamber, and having a horizontal passage Way therein contiguous to the inner face of the upper Wall of said chamber, said nozzle having a through aperture connecting With said passage Way, and a valve adapted for the ad- Lnission of pressure means into said cham- 3. A device of the class described including a non-collapsible structure, an upstanding nozzle upon the upper surface of said structure, there being a chamber Within said structure, a protuberance integral With said structure projecting into said chamber directly underneath said nozzle, and having a horizontal passage Way therein contiguous to the inner face of the upper Wall of said chamber, said nozzle having a through aperture connecting With said passage Way, and a valve adapted for the admission of pressure means into said chamber.

4. An article of the class described including a base and a pair of chambers therein separated by a bridge, said bridge having a vertical aperture therein extending exteriorly of said structure and a transfer valve in said bridge efi'ecting connection of said aperture With said chambers alternately upon oscillation of said valve.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto set my hand.

MARTIN M. SWEET. 

